donehue



p 1960 v. K. DONEHUE Re. 24,869

VEHICLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER APPARATUS Original Filed March 14, 1955 Q 2Shee ts-Sheet 1 R zaz 1N VEN TOR.

A- EW av w P 13, 1960 v. K. DONEHUE Re. 24,869

vsmcus FIRE EXTINGUISHER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Original FiledMarch 14, 1955 5 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent fifice Re. 24,8ii9 Reissued Sept. 13, 1960- VEHICLEFIRE EXTINGUISHER APPARATUS Val K. Donehue, 3713 Laurel Ave., Omaha,Nebr.

Original No. 2,867,281, dated Jan. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 493,889, Mar. 14,1955. Application for reissue Feb. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 3,206

8 Claims. (31. 1692) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets 1 appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to extinguishing fires in motor vehicles andfires of the type that commonly occur from defective wiring of theengine and from the bursting of a fiat tire into flame due toover-heating. A particular objective is to provide means forextinguishing fires in any vehicle of a type in which tire firescommonly occur, particularly vehicles carrying cargoes of explosivematerial.

It is well known that ammunition trucks have exploded due to firescaused by either defective wiring or overheated tires, the fire reachingand igniting the explosive cargo. It has been the practice of the driverof the ammunition truck to stop the truck, jump out hurriedly and spraythe tire or wiring with a small portable fire extinguisher, hoping toextinguish the fire before the truck and himself blow up, a dangerousrace with death.

However, once a fire in a tire has burst into full flame it is diflicultand almost impossible to stop it with the portable fire fightingequipment of the type now used on ammunition trucks. For example,SO-pound manually portable fire fighting units are commonly used ontrucks and without certainty that these will put out a fire once fullystarted.

With portable equipment only there is. a great possibility of the tirebursting into flame between the time the driver sees smoke in his rearview mirror and the time he reaches the fire, having stopped his truckand having rushed back to use a hand extinguisher, reaching the fire toolate for effective use of hand equipment and after the flame hasdangerously progressed beyond a stage controllable with hand equipment.When too late, the ammunition truck driver must either remove theburning tire or run from the truck as fast as he can before it explodes.

The key to my method and system lies in my perception of the importanceof the fact that it is far easier to fight a tire fire before it burstsinto flame and in my conception of making this possible with stationaryequipment remotely controllable by the operator from the cab, and theconception that the desirability of a remote control system is notdefeated by its inability to completely extinguish a tire fire wherebyit is an object of this: invention to provide a method including use ofboth remote control and hand operated extinguishers.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for deliveringfire extinguishing material to a tirewhile a truck is in motion, theapparatus being of a nature such that its outlet parts will not clogwith mud or ice and become inoperable.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a tirefire extinguishing system the outlet members of which are disposedadjacent the tires, the outlet members being capped for preventing mudfrom entering the outlet opening thereof, and the pressure of the systembeing so great as to blow E the caps covering the outlet openingautomatically with the turning on of the fire extinguishing systemwhereby the outlet openings are then open and free to deliver fireextinguishing material to a tire fire.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claimsthe scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselvesas the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in whichthe principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalentprinciples may be used and structural changes may be made as desired bythose skilled in the art without departing from the present inventionand the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a truck and semi-trailer provided with afire extinguishing system of this invention mounted thereon, portions ofthe truck being broken away to show the system. A portable fireextinguisher being shown in dotted line.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of a truck as seen from the left hand sidein Figure 1 and showing a left rear corner of the semi-trailer in anincomplete and diagrammatic representation, with portions of thesemi-trailer being broken away and a frame member of the semi-trailerbeing shown in cross-section with the rearward portion removed.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the motor area of the truck shownwith upper portions of the hood and forward portions of the cab removedand with a fire wall between the motor area and the cab area being shownin cross-section.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of a rearward left hand corner of asemi-trailer as seen from the left hand in Figure l, the view of Figure4 being similar to the view of Figure 2 with the exception that it showsanother modification of the invention.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of a nozzle shown in detail with the capportion thereon being broken away.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an outwardly flared fireextinguishing outlet member with a portion of a cap thereon beingpartially broken away.

The remote control fire extinguishing system of this invention isparticularly adapted for use on trucks and by way of example a truck ofa type having a semitrailer is shown in Figure l, the truck portionbeing generally indicated at 10 and the semi-trailer portion beinggenerally indicated at 12.

The truck portion 14 can be of a type having many kinds of wheelarrangement and so the truck 10 that is shown serves only as an example.In the example shown, the truck 10 has two rear wheels on each side asindicated at 16, only one of which can be seen in Figure 1.

The truck 10 has two forward wheels 18, and the upper surface of thehighway is indicated at 20.

In the preferred form of this invention, compressed air is used with thefire extinguishing system and a compressed air tank is shown at 30 inFigure 1, such air tanks being common equipment on trucks of this size.

A pipe line 32 leads upwardly from the top of the tank 30 in accordancewith this invention and extends forwardly to a valve 36 having a controlmeans of any suitable type such as a lever 38. The valve 36 ispreferably disposed in a position such that a control 38 can be rapidlymanipulated by the operator while sitting in his normal position whiledriving the truck. A second pipe 40 extends outwardly from the valve 36and rearwardly therefrom, air pressure from the pipe 32 beingcommunicated to the pipe 40 at times when the valve 36 is open. The pipe40 extends rearwardly through the rearward end of the cab to thesemi-trailer 12 although a pipe 50 extends upwardly from the pipe 40 andextends to a suitable fitting 54 at the top of a tank 60 disposed in thecab adjacent the rear wall 62 of the cab. A suitable outlet member 70 isdisposed on the rearward side of the cab, the outlet member 70 openingdownwardly and being connected at its upper end to the fitting 54. Thepurpose of the outlet member 70 is to distribute fire extinguishingmaterial over the area immediately to the rear of a cab and between thecab and semi-trailer so as to extinguish fires breaking out in the gastank area due to short-circuiting of wiring or other causes.

The outlet member 70 shown in Figure l, is shown only by way of exampleand it will be understood that another type of outlet can be used ifdesired. The type shown at 70 in Figure 1 is outwardly flared on itslower end and rearward portions for purposes of distribution of the fireextinguishing material. The outlet 70 can be two in number, one on eachside of the truck as is preferable for best distribution of the fireextinguishing material, for this reason separate members 50, 54 and 60can be disposed on the other side of the truck 10 in duplicate of theparts shown in Figure l.

The outlet member 70 preferably has a cap 72 on the under side thereofwhich latter is adapted to be forced off by the air pressure in thelines 40 and 50. The cap 72 otherwise remains in place for purposes ofpreventing road dust and mud and ice from entering the outlet member 70and clogging it up. The cap 72 will be more fully described during adescription of a later described cap.

a portion thereof extending from the rear of the cab 62 to thesemi-trailer 12 is flexible preferably,-and a considerable amount ofslack is provided therein as best seen at 110 which can be upheld by amember 112.

The line 40 extends rearwardly along the semi-trailer 12 as best seen inFigure 2. At various points along the semi-trailer, the line 40 has afitting 112 thereon for receiving pipes 116 which extend outwardly andtransversely therefrom. The pipes 116 extend to the right and left handsides of the semi-trailer 12 respectively and are disposed through theopenings 114 in a trailer frame member 117. Through the pipes 116 airpressure extends outwardly to valves 118 which latter are of a type foractuation by the air pressure for opening the valves. When the valves118 are. open fire extinguishing material can flow therethrough throughpipes 120 which are connected to the valves 118 and to fireextinguishing material reservoir tanks 130 supported on brackets 132beneath the semi-trailer.

Fire extinguishing material. passes through the lines 120 and the valves118 and through a pipe 124 to'a fitting 134 from which it extendsoutwardly through pipes 136 to-the right and left joining outlet members140 disposed above tires 150'which latter are arranged close together asdual wheels ordinarily having a common axle 154.

The outlet members 140 are preferably of a shape concave on their underside having a curvature approximately the same as a portion of a circlewith a center at the axle of the respective wheel. The outlet members140 have a sharper curve on those sides thereof which are disposedforwardly of a wheel. The purpose of a sharper curve, as is indicated at156 is to counteract the tendency of wind caused by rotation of thewheel to carry the fire extinguishing material tangentially.

As thus described it willbe seen that as shown. in Figure 2 outletmembers 140 are provided on the forward and rearward sides of each ofthe wheels 150 of the semitrailer and also are arranged above the dualrearward wheels 16 of a tractor 10.

The motor area ofthe truck 10 is protected through the use of a rightand left hand pair of pipes 200'disp0sed extending forwardly andhorizontally along thev top of each side of the motor 210. The pipes 200are provided with apertures therein as indicated at 220. for permittingfire extinguishing material to spray outwardly therefrom and toward themotor 210.

The pipe 40 preferably is flexible or otherwise at least I The pipes 200are connected to a pipe 220 which latter is itself connected by a pipe222 which extends through a fire wall 230 of the tractor 10 to a valve226 at the top of a fire extinguisher reservoir 232, the latter beingone of the pressure type whereby when its valve wheel 240 is actuatedmanually by the operator of the truck, the valve 226 is opened wherebythe fire extinguishing material flows therethrough and outwardly of theapertures 220 and sprays the motor 210. The pipe 200 can be upheld inany suitable manner, not shown.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, wherein is shown a view of theleft hand rear wheels and end of a trailer in an incomplete anddiagrammatic representation with portions of the semi-trailer beingbroken away and a frame member of the semi trailer being shown in crosssection with the rearward portion removed. The dual rear wheels aredesignated by the numeral 400 and are mounted on an axle 402. Thesemi-trailer body is shown at 404 having a frame member 406therebeneath.

The truck-fire extinguishing system of the modification illustrated inFigure 4 is much the same as the above first described arrangement withthe exception that the outlet members 140 are replaced with adjustablespray nozzle assemblies generally indicated by the numeral 408, theassembly 408 being secured to the under side of the trailer in positionover the wheels 400 by means of a bracket 500 secured by a bolt 501.

The similar parts of the system shall bear the same numerals as firstabove described whereby the main air line 40 extends rearwardly of thetrailer adjacent the frame channel 406 and at points along its extensionis provided with fittings 112 thereon for receiving pipes 16 whichextend outwardly and transversely therefrom. The

pipes- 116 extend to the right and left hand sides of the semi trailer404 respectively.

The pipes 40 -a'11d 116 carry air-pressure outwardly to valves 118 whichlatter are of a type for actuation by air pressure for opening thevalves. When the valves 118 are opened fire extinguishing material canflow there- 'through, through pipes 502 which are connected to thevalves 118 and to fire extinguishing material reservoir tanks supportedon brackets 132 beneath the semitrailer.

The fire extinguishing material passes through the lines 502 and valves118Land through a pipe 506 to a fitting 508 from which extends outwardlythrough pipes 600 to the right and left. The outwardly, normallyhorizontally extending pipes 60 extend outwardly past the outer side ofthe tires 400, then curve downwardly and inwardly at an angle toward thecenter of the wheel 400.

Further outlet pipes 602 are provided connected to the main pipe 600,one'on each side and a short distance outwardly of the fitting 508.Pipes 602 extend downwardly and are inclined at an angle inwardly andoutwardly respectively, that is, the pipe 602 toward the outside of thetrailer 404 is bent at an angle pointing toward the center of the/insideone of the wheels 400. The inner pipe 602 or the pipe nearest thetrailer frame member 406 is bent at'an angle pointing toward the centerof the outer one of the wheels 400.

Adjustable spray nozzles 604 are disposed one on each of the downwardlyopening ends of the pipes 600 and 602.

When the system is in operation, as illustrated in Figure 4, airpressure released byturning the lever 38 of the valve 36 goes throughthe pipes 40 and 116 and actuates the valves 11 8 to an open positionwhereby fire extinguishing material can flow outwardly of the tank orreservoir 130, through the. pipes 502 passing through the valve 118',and the pipe 506 and into the outlet pipes 600 and 602 and outwardly ofthe spray nozzle 604. The fire extinguishing material is illustrated bymeans of lines 700 and the nozzles 604 are soarranged as to cause thematerial700' to. cover a substantial area of the upper sides of thewheels 01: tires. 400 with an airtight film 702 of exmaterial 700..

To prevent the nozzle openings from being plugged with mud, snow, dirtor the like while the semi-trailer is in operation, the openings of thenozzles 604 are provided with caps 800 as best seen in Figure 5. The cap800 fits closely around the lower open end of the nozzle 604 and the capmeans is so designed that the pressure of fire extinguishing materialcoming through the outlet means or nozzle 604 will force the cap awayfrom the outlet sufficiently to permit passage of the fire extinguishingmaterial therethrough.

Figure 6 shows cap means 704 as applied to the outlet members 140 andthe caps 7 04 are shaped complementally to and engage about the lowerterminal edges 706 of the opening of the outlet member 140.

From 'the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that avehicle fire extinguisher apparatus con-- structed in accordance with myinvention is particularly well adapted for use, by reason of theconvenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated,and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of somechange and modification without departing from the principles and spiritthereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limitingmyself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several partsherein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except asclaimed.

I claim:

1. In combination: [an ammunition carrying truck] a vehicle carryingexplosive material having dual wheel assemblies and apparatus forfighting fires breaking out in a tire of a dual wheel assemblycomprising: outlet.

means for fire extinguishing material disposed adjacent said tires anddirected toward said tires, means controllable from a position adjacentthe drivers seat of said [motor] vehicle for delivering fireextinguishing material to said outlet means whereby the operator cancause delivery of fire extinguishing material to said tires at timeswhen said vehicle is in motion to prevent excess spreading of a tirefire until said vehicle can be stopped.

2. The fire extinguishing apparatus described in claim 1 in which said[motor] vehicle has a source of compressed air, and in which means isprovided for using compressed air from said source to provide pressurefor the delivery of fire extinguishing material to said outlet means.

3. The apparatus described in claim 1 in which said outlet meanscomprises a plurality of nozzles having outlet ends so constructed as todistribute said fire extinguishing material over a wide area.

4. The apparatus described in claim 1 in which cap means are providedfor covering the terminal ends of said outlet means in order to preventsaid terminal ends from becoming clogged with mut or the like, means forholding said cap means on said terminal ends respectively.

5. In combination: a [highway traveling] vehicle carrying an explosivecargo and having pneumatic tires on a dual wheel assembly and anapparatus for fighting a fire breaking out in a tire of a dual wheelassembly comprising: means mounted on said vehicle and providing asource of supply of fire extinguishing material under pressure, nozzlesdisposed in positions for directing fire extinguishing material at thoseparts of said tires which are disposed closest to the explosive cargo,means mounting said nozzles on said vehicle in said positions, meansinterconnecting said source and said nozzles andfor piping said materialfrom said source to said nozzles, controllable valve means in saidpiping means, and manually operable means mounted on said vehicle forcontrolling operation of said valve means from a position sufi'icientlyremote from said tires that the operator is not in danger of beingburned by said tire fire itself whereby fire extinguishing material canbe delivered to said tires to control said fire in order to removedanger of explosion of said cargo for at least a sufiicient time topermit the driver of said vehicle to fight said fire with other means.

6. The fire extinguishing apparatus described in claim 5 in which said[motor] vehicle has a source of compressed air, and in which means isprovided for delivering compressed air from said source to said sourceof supply of fire extinguishing material to provide said pressure.

7. A wheeled vehicle of a type having tires which are susceptible tobreaking into flame from overheating, and apparatus for fighting firesbreaking out in a tire of said vehicle comprising outlet means for fireextinguishing material disposed adjacent said tires and directed towardsaid tires, manually controllable means mounted on said vehicle andcontrollable from a position sufiiciently remote from said tire firethat an operator of said manually controllable means would not be burnedby said fire during manipulation of said manually controllable means,said manually controllable means being for delivering fire extinguishingmaterial to said outlet means whereby an operator can cause delivery ofsaid fire extinguishing material to said tires at times when saidvehicle is in motion and to prevent excess spreading of a tire fireuntil said vehicle can be stopped.

8. A wheeled vehicle of a type having tires which are susceptible tobreaking into flame from overheating, and apparatus for fighting firesbreaking out in a tire of said vehicle comprising outlet means for fireextinguishing material disposed adjacent said tires and directed towardsaid tires, means mounted on said vehicle for delivering fireextinguishing liquid material to said outlet means while said vehicle isin motion.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,130,719 Erwin Mar. 9, 1915 1,488,289 Ruff Mar.5, 1924 1,493,327 Dunbar May 6, 1924 1,720,140 OConnor July 9, 192 9

